SLOAN members around the world

SLOAN Family History

This long-established surname, widespread in Scotland and Northern Ireland, is an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic personal name "Sluaghadhan", leader of a military expedition, from "sluaghadh", expedition, raid. The Chronicles of the Picts (inhabitants of North East Scotland) tells us that one Sluagadach went forth to Rome circa 966, and circa 1128; Slogadadh was the name of a leader of the bishop of St. Andrew's host. In the process of Anglicization "Sluaghadh(an)" has acquired many variant forms including: Sloan, Sloane, Slo(y)ne, Slowan, Sloyan, Slowey and Slo(e)y, the latter two examples are more specifically from "O'Sluaghaidh", descendant of Sluaghadh.